City chided over pot raid

About the same time, police searched a suspected marijuana dispensary,carrying out bags of evidence and arresting an employee.

"Unfortunately, while we were meeting with the mayor, your PoliceDepartment was raiding one of our collectives, and we're not happyabout that, but we appreciate your time," Marla James, a member ofAmerican for Safe Access' Orange County chapter, told city officialsat Tuesday's council meeting.

Police served a search warrant at the dispensary, Doc's, andarrested Rick Allen, 51, who was booked on suspicion of possessingmarijuana for sale and transporting it.

The raid is part of a city effort to eliminate the seven to ninemarijuana dispensaries that are operating in violation of its law.

Mansoor said he was not aware of Tuesday's raid, but that there areno mixed messages.

"We're simply upholding our current laws," he said.

Mansoor met with the residents and supporters at their request, he said.

The mayor added that he's open to discuss ways to help those in needof medical marijuana, while honoring law enforcement concerns.

Costa Mesa City Atty. Kimberly Hall Barlow, who's preparing a studysession for the council on the issue, said the ordinance isn't meantto discriminate against patients, but that it prohibits illegalbusinesses from setting up shop.

"We are not aware of legal collectives operating in the city,"she said.

State law prohibits the sale of marijuana, but a 1996 propositionlegalized the cultivation and use of pot for patients suffering fromchronic pain, cancer and other ailments.

In recent months, and after U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder'sannouncement that his office will no longer go after marijuanadispensaries, California cities have seen an increase in the number ofcollectives.